Posted on 08/28/2012 12:44:47 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
TAMPA, Florida — As the Republican convention kicks off Tuesday in Tampa, one niggling question remains: who is the mystery speaker with a prime time slot just before Mitt Romney accepts the presidential nomination.
Aides to the Republican White House hopeful have taken far too much pleasure in teasing frustrated journalists and heightening the sense of intrigue. "Tune in!" campaign strategist Russ Schriefer challenged in his latest update.
The schedule released by the Republican National Convention lists a "To Be Announced" speaker on Thursday night just before the keynote introduction by Hispanic rising star Marco Rubio and Romney's all-important acceptance speech.
With most party heavyweights already securing spots during three nights of heady political theater 10 weeks out from the November election, speculation was rife that the mystery person could be a notable absentee.
Former presidents George and George W. Bush have both said they won't be attending, although a video from the pair is set to play on Wednesday's program.
This would be the first convention by either party since Jimmy Carter didn't show up in 1996 -- apparently his invitation was late and he declined -- that wasn't attended by a current or former president. Former vice president Dick Cheney has also said he will not be in Tampa, but the architect of the Iraq war and the "war on terror" is hardly flavor of the month in the current Republican Party.
Perhaps the biggest Republican celebrity not due to attend is former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who lit up the 2008 convention as John McCain's surprise running mate with her talk of hockey moms and lipstick.
A surprise 2012 convention appearance by the Tea Party favorite would certainly be a show-stopper, but pundits considered it highly unlikely as it would risk overshadowing Romney's big moment.
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No jest and don't call me Shirley. (movie Airplane!)
Bingo.
"Stay thirsty, my friends".
Newt would kill!
Don't think because not nationally known. But, what a wonderful woman.
How about Mark Levin?
Allen West lacks the temperament for such a high profile speaking position. He’s a verbal loose cannon. Too strident.
Joe Biden. He said he was giving a speech at the Republican Convention didn’t he?
By now it should be clear to even Karl Rove that Romney cannot fire up the base. It will never happen. Romney has a distinct enthusiasm gap even with a mostly conservative running mate.
Those of us who will vote for Romney are not voting FOR Romney, we’re voting AGAINST Obama. And a significant portion of the base cannot stand Romney so badly that they cannot bring themselves to vote AGAINST Obama if that means they must vote FOR Romney.
So... What’s a RINO political manipulator to do?
I think Romney has no choice. He must swing for the fences.
The only home run he could possibly hit at this point is to bring in Sarah Palin. Have Alan West introduce her.
It would have to be kept completely secret or the media would ruin it in advance. And, yes, it would upstage Romney. But it would fire up the base in a way nothing else could do. It might even light a fire big enough to beat Obama.
Certainly not at the Dem convention!
Would be a great selection, though.
It would be great if it was Hillary. Heads on all sides would explode.
I guess that’s why I like him. He’s strident.
RE: so who else will shock the media?
My personal dream is that George Obama appears with an official birth certificate from Kenya showing Barack was born there and showing it to the crowd.
Cousin Pookie will be special surprise guest at Dem convention! HA, HA!
But, I'm thinking Sheila Jackson Lee, Aisle Hog, par excellence, may be given a talking role at Dem convention!
Time for all that Aisle Hogging to pay off with speech time for SJL.
THAT would be sweet!
There was an article on FR the week before last, said he (the GM CEO) had announced he was voting for Romney.
Rush?
Newt and Callista already on the schedule Thur nite.
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